UNIDIR has announced the standout submissions of the Youth Visions of Peace campaign, which invited young people worldwide to share photos and written reflections on what peace looks like through their eyes. Organized by UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project, in collaboration with 100cameras and War Child, the campaign ran for three months and received nearly 100 submissions from across over 25 countries.
A panel of youth and experts selected six outstanding submissions from Bangladesh, France, Malawi, Mongolia, Nigeria and Ukraine for their originality, thematic relevance, and thoughtful visual storytelling. 100cameras awarded these young photographers with digital cameras and online photography training to support their continued creativity and advocacy for peace. These are their visions of peace:
Tumenkhuslen, Mongolia
Above noise and chaos
There is this serenity in ordinary things.
Clear vision on the sky
Longed for so long
Still scene of vast steppe.
Lynda, France
On the heights of Fort Gouraya, a Barbary macaque watches over the city of Bejaïa as the sun sets.
For me, this moment represents peace. The beauty of nature rising above human life, reminding us that the natural world is timeless, protective, and greater than us.
Peace is found when we let nature breathe, when we live in harmony with it, and when we remember that it quietly watches over us all.
Roshan, Malawi
Peace is the quiet of a long road with no rush! The empty, open road gives a feeling of freedom, no pressure, no noise just a quiet space to breathe.
Tall trees lined up perfectly literally shows that peace is nature standing still! It gives a sense of stability, grounding and more importantly sense of order!
All in all, peace is the journey not the destination. Just like a quiet drive where your mind finally goes silent, yet you can hear your own thoughts clearly!
And yes peace. Peace is the soft light and clear skies because it relaxes your chest instantly!
Anastasiya, Ukraine
This image comprises the full spectrum of colours that influence not just the mood but also the thoughts they evoke.
The white-lit St Catherine Church has always been a sanctuary for peace in all places and for all people. Standing in the darkness alone, it silently sends and invitation to anyone in need of refuge – both for body and soul – offering a physical shelter and a place to be heard.
It is one of the very few places in this small Ukrainian border town where people come with hope that the light of peace will prevail over the embers of war.
Musa, Nigeria
This place once echoed with fear and silence. Insurgency had stripped it of laughter, trust and life.
Today, standing by the still waters where wildflowers bloom, I see a different story unfolding.
A promise that peace can return, that what was broken can be rebuilt, and that tomorrow can hold shade, fruit and joy.
Imran, Bangladesh
This image shows how strength is shaped not only by big moments, but by the quiet, persistent effort to care for oneself and one’s family even when life is difficult.
Amplifying youth voices in peacebuilding
The Youth Visions of Peace campaign reflects UNIDIR’s continued commitment to meaningful youth participation in conversations about peace, security and disarmament. It meets young people where they are – through photography, storytelling and social media – amplifying underrepresented perspectives that are often overlooked.
UNIDIR and its Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project remain committed to engaging young people through participatory research and creating spaces where their voices directly shape the policies and processes that affect their present and future.